What Is a Biopsy?
Biopsies at Washington Township Medical Foundation
If your internist at Washington Township Medical Foundation has ordered
a biopsy, you may have questions about this term and what to expect during
the procedure. On this page, we attempt to answer your potential questions
about biopsies. Ask your doctor if you have any further questions.
Biopsy Procedure: What to Expect
A biopsy is a type of test that your doctor may order after another test
reveals an abnormality in some tissue in the body.
This tissue may be referred to by your physician as a:
Examples of cases where a biopsy might be called for include a lump or
mass found in the breast after a mammogram, a questionable mole on the
skin that could suggest melanoma, or in cases where the patient has hepatitis
and the doctor wishes to check for cirrhosis or scarring of the liver.
Types of biopsies include:
- CT-guided biopsies
- Needle biopsies
- Bone biopsies
- Bone marrow biopsies
- Ultrasound-guided biopsies
- Aspiration biopsies
- Skin biopsies
- Surgical biopsies
- And more
In almost all cases, your doctor will apply numbing medication and then
use a sharp tool to collect the sample. The invasiveness of the procedure
will depend on the type of sample needed. In some cases, the procedure
will be conducted in your doctor’s office; others may require a
hospital setting. Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have
about this process.